Tomonobu Itagaki, the legendary Japanese developer behind iconic titles such as 'Dead or Alive' and 'Ninja Gaiden', has passed away at the age of 58.

The news broke on the 16th via a final message posted to his Facebook page, a report subsequently confirmed by his peers in the industry. As of now, the specific cause of his death remains undisclosed.

The farewell message appears to have been penned by Itagaki himself in advance. Looking back on his life as a series of skirmishes, he noted, "We kept on winning." He added, "I caused my fair share of trouble, but I held onto my convictions and have no regrets." That said, he offered a sincere apology to his fans for his inability to deliver any new works.

Itagaki joined Tecmo in 1992 and eventually rose to lead Team Ninja. He cemented his status as a star developer while serving as the producer and director for both the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series.

Always seen sporting his trademark sunglasses, he was just as famous for his confrontational personality as his games—most notably for suing Tecmo over unpaid bonuses during his tenure.

Following his departure from the company in 2008, he founded Valhalla Game Studios and released titles like 'Devil's Third'. After Valhalla Game Studios closed its doors in 2021, he went on to launch Itagaki Games, bearing his own name.

Team Ninja expressed their condolences regarding Itagaki's passing. In a statement via their official Twitter account on the 16th, they wrote, 'We will carry on the creative spirit of Mr. Itagaki and continue to deliver titles to gamers everywhere. We sincerely pray for his soul.'

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